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- Nov 8, 2007
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Talking today with Lonnie, (AphonopelmaTX) about those little "tricks" to successfully raise slings of the Theraphosa genus, I thought of making a thread sharing those tricks.
During the last years,(when I actually focused on the Theraphosa genus), sometimes little problems arise when raising 2nd instars of this genus.
These, specially Theraphosa blondi were specially delicate to make the first 2-3 molts. I bought a big number last year (1st recent Europe Import in quite some time) and this year (Jan 2011 ) and 4 of them died on me for no apparent reason.
Also, with Theraphosa apophysis when they are 2nd and 3rd instar,the legs are so long that molts are a bit more crucial.
I have had to step in several times to sort of get the old exuvia off of them because their metatarsi and tarsi were deforming by the old exuvia weight.
Besides that, when they are around 4" and above, everything gets really easier.
The main things to take into consideration to really succeed at raising Theraphosa are:
-Smaller container housing
-Very damp conditions
-And regular daily cleaning and after each meal.
Smaller container housing
These slings,specially apophysis , gets ridiculously stressed with anything moving around their enclosure when they are under
5-6".
I realized that smaller containers and very little disturbance gets them to be calmer, feed more regularly and avoids climbing.
I house 2nd instars in around 4" by 4" plastic enclosures, and literally upgrade them little by little.
On cleaning and humidity matters
Because of the warmer temps that you need to provide in order for them to speed up the fragile sling state, dehydration will ocurr extremely easily.
You need to provide literally very damp conditions inside the containers, and of curse a small cap as an open water source.
They can surprise you with a molt at ANY time, so better safe than sorry.
Due to this very wet conditions, I have seen within a matter of hours MAGGOTS around the tiny little bolus after a meal, and around the water dish...and they quickly spread.
Water cleaning MUST be an every day deal with them. They are so susceptible of getting fungus and maggots on their enclosure that those cleanings must be a daily thing.
Once they are around 4-5" You can relax a little bit and keep the enclosure a little bit less damp.
So yes, when they are slings they are definitely a harder task. Specially when I keep them at 85-87F to trigger a bit of a faster metabolism so they get out of that fragile stage.
But thats what T keeping is all about, the observation and interaction when needed
.
So go ahead and get your Theraphosa !!!
During the last years,(when I actually focused on the Theraphosa genus), sometimes little problems arise when raising 2nd instars of this genus.
These, specially Theraphosa blondi were specially delicate to make the first 2-3 molts. I bought a big number last year (1st recent Europe Import in quite some time) and this year (Jan 2011 ) and 4 of them died on me for no apparent reason.
Also, with Theraphosa apophysis when they are 2nd and 3rd instar,the legs are so long that molts are a bit more crucial.
I have had to step in several times to sort of get the old exuvia off of them because their metatarsi and tarsi were deforming by the old exuvia weight.
Besides that, when they are around 4" and above, everything gets really easier.
The main things to take into consideration to really succeed at raising Theraphosa are:
-Smaller container housing
-Very damp conditions
-And regular daily cleaning and after each meal.
Smaller container housing
These slings,specially apophysis , gets ridiculously stressed with anything moving around their enclosure when they are under
5-6".
I realized that smaller containers and very little disturbance gets them to be calmer, feed more regularly and avoids climbing.
I house 2nd instars in around 4" by 4" plastic enclosures, and literally upgrade them little by little.
On cleaning and humidity matters
Because of the warmer temps that you need to provide in order for them to speed up the fragile sling state, dehydration will ocurr extremely easily.
You need to provide literally very damp conditions inside the containers, and of curse a small cap as an open water source.
They can surprise you with a molt at ANY time, so better safe than sorry.
Due to this very wet conditions, I have seen within a matter of hours MAGGOTS around the tiny little bolus after a meal, and around the water dish...and they quickly spread.
Water cleaning MUST be an every day deal with them. They are so susceptible of getting fungus and maggots on their enclosure that those cleanings must be a daily thing.
Once they are around 4-5" You can relax a little bit and keep the enclosure a little bit less damp.
So yes, when they are slings they are definitely a harder task. Specially when I keep them at 85-87F to trigger a bit of a faster metabolism so they get out of that fragile stage.
But thats what T keeping is all about, the observation and interaction when needed
.So go ahead and get your Theraphosa !!!
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